Wallabies under no illusions over 'quality' of Libbok-led Springboks
The Wallabies don't see a weakness in rookie five-eighth Manie Libbok, who has been named to steer South Africa in their opening Rugby Championship Test in Pretoria.
With World Cup-winning playmaker Handre Pollard out with a calf injury, Libbok will have his first start in the No.10 jersey when the Springboks face Australia on Saturday (1.05am Sunday AEST) after three Tests off the bench.
Wallabies utility Reece Hodge said the 25-year-old has shown he is up to the Test arena.
"Manie got a couple of Tests in the Spring tour last year and played really well," Hodge said from Australia's training base in Johannesburg.
"He's a quality player, been playing really well for the Stormers for a number of years now and putting his hand up for selection.
"He hasn't let the Springboks down when he's got a chance at Test level."
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has sent 14 players to New Zealand to prepare for their July 15 clash with the All Blacks, including Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe.
Hodge felt the depth of player talent in the Springboks ranks meant they could afford to split the squad and still field a formidable line-up in Pretoria.
"They have the luxury of four or five or six guys in (each) position ... It's a very high-quality team and it's going to be a massive Test for us," he said.
"They're going to be coming out firing in their first home Test of the year so we don't really expect too much different there in terms of selection."
Known for his massive boot, Hodge is expecting the Test to become a kicking duel and was looking forward to the extra metres that came through playing at altitude.
"It is a big part of the game (on the highveld), the ball travels a bit further," Hodge said.
"South Africa have traditionally been a very good kicking side. They put a lot of pressure on teams through contestable kicks.
"We will have to be smart in terms of how we counteract that and put pressure on them through our own kicking game. It will be a massive part of the match.
"It's certainly exciting for a kicker to get a few extra bonus metres."
Hodge said Eddie Jones, in his first Test since his return to the Wallabies coaching role, had left no stone unturned.
"One thing that Eddie has brought in is a lot of detail, he is one of the hardest workers I have come across," Hodge said.
"He is meticulous in his preparation, both in the last two weeks of our camp and in this week leading up to the Test."
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
Go to comments